730 FREE Writing Worksheets
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FREE Writing Worksheets

As ESL teachers, we’ve all had those students who do great on their grammar exams, speak up confidently in class, and are always first to raise their hands for activities - and yet, when it comes time for a writing assignment, they can barely squeeze out a few short sentences. This can be frustrating for the student and teacher alike - but it’s the symptom of a problem that’s well-known in every teaching community: Speaking and writing are two very different skills.

As with any new skill, practice is key - but students who have trouble writing aren’t usually keen to take on even more writing practice. After all, they might think, if their grammar and vocabulary are correct, and they don’t need to write in English for their jobs, what’s the point of drilling this skill? The answer is, of course, that the ability to write in English is key in the world and the workplace - from writing cover letters and CVs to drafting emails and client presentations. The responsibility is at least partly on you, the teacher, to provide assignments that draw your students into the writing process.

BusyTeacher.org is your number-one stop for exactly those kinds of assignments. Our 730 writing worksheets will provide your students with intriguing writing prompts, and with a variety of writing exercises that’ll help them watch their own improvement as it happens. Our worksheets even break down the writing process into its core components, so you can figure out exactly where in the process each student is struggling, and intervene with exercises to help him or her through that trouble spot.

The writing worksheets here on BusyTeacher.org will help familiarize your students with all the sub-skills involved in writing - from choosing a topic and constructing that first paragraph, all the way to writing movie reviews and short poems. Some of our worksheets even cover basics like handwriting and sentence structure - so no matter how much your students need to brush up on their fundamentals, we’ve got worksheets to meet them where they are.

You’ll find worksheets on any topic you can imagine, from daily routines and holidays to pop culture, news, and even poetry and song lyrics.  Some worksheets just help you lead simple fill-in-the-blank exercises, while others present thought-provoking topics for full essays, or include plans for your students to create their own newsletters. And for students who need help with English school assignments, you’ll also find worksheets on writing essays and test responses.

You can browse all of our 730 writing worksheets in thumbnail view, so you don’t have to wait for any of them to load to get an idea of what they’re like. As you scroll down the page, just click on any worksheet that catches your eye - they’re all completely free to download, print, and share in any way you like. And they’re all created and classroom-tested by real ESL teachers all over the world - which means you can be confident they’ll work in your classroom, too. If you’ve got a worksheet of your own that you’d like to share with your fellow ESL teachers in the BusyTeacher.org community, just click the “Submit a worksheet” button at the bottom of this page.

All of these writing worksheets are here to help you - so pick out a few that look interesting, and give them a try in your classroom today. We’re sure you’ll love them as much as the other ESL teachers in our community already do.

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What If You Could See Through Walls? [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

What If You Could See Through Walls? [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt:  What if you could see through walls? Describe what you would see if you looked into an average home?
7 Views 6,432 All
The Busiest Day Of Your Life [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

The Busiest Day Of Your Life [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt:  Think about the busiest day of your life. Why were you so busy and what did you do when you were finally finished?
5 Views 8,942 All
The Scariest Moment Of Your Life [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

The Scariest Moment Of Your Life [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt:  Think about the scariest moment of your life. Describe what happened and why you were so scared.
6 Views 10,893 All
The Biggest Surprise In Your Life [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

The Biggest Surprise In Your Life [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt:  Think about the biggest surprise in your life. What happened and why did it shock you so much?
6 Views 9,413 All
The First Time You Went On A Plane [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

The First Time You Went On A Plane [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt:  Think about the first time you went on a plane. Describe how you felt during take-off and landing. 
7 Views 14,439 All
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Replace Santa Claus [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Replace Santa Claus [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt:  Invent a fictional character to replace Santa Claus. Describe your character and what he or she would do different.
9 Views 10,473 All
The Most Exhausted [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

The Most Exhausted [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt:  Think about the most physically exhausted you have ever been. Why were you so tired, and what did you do?
3 Views 3,467 All
Invent A New Dance [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Invent A New Dance [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt: Invent a new dance. Describe it and the type of music it would be suited to. 
5 Views 8,058 All
The First Time You Fell In Love [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

The First Time You Fell In Love [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt:  Think about the first time you ever fell in love. Who di you fall in love with and what happened?
8 Views 7,618 All
Free As A Bird [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Free As A Bird [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt:  Think about the time in your life when you felt the most free. Describe what you were doing and why you felt so free.  
4 Views 9,614 All
Song Worksheet: Friday by Rebecca Black

Song Worksheet: Friday by Rebecca Black

Students are walked through the steps to write a successful paragraph reinterpretting any English song. This worksheet includes: Sample paragraph, outline, sample outline, rubric and detailed assi ...
3 Views 9,108 Pre-IntIntAdv
The Longest Traffic Jam [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

The Longest Traffic Jam [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt:  Think about the longest traffic jam you've ever been in. Describe how you felt when you were stuck and then when you finally got moving again.
9 Views 11,226 All
Invent A New Use For... [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Invent A New Use For... [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt:  Invent a new use for magnets. Describe how you would use them and how it would make your life easier.
4 Views 7,372 All
The Worst Job [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

The Worst Job [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt:  What is the worst job you could imagine doing and why? How would you feel in your day to day life? 
7 Views 7,343 All
Imagine Being The First Explorer To... [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Imagine Being The First Explorer To... [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt:  Imagine beight the first explorer to enter an ancient Egyptian tomb. Describe what happens, how you feel and what treasures you find.
7 Views 11,068 All
A Lie [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

A Lie [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt:  Think of a time when someone has told you a lie. What was the lie and how did you find out the truth?
4 Views 7,478 All
The Most Miserable Person You Have Ever Met [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

The Most Miserable Person You Have Ever Met [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt: Think of the most miserable person you have ever met. Devise a plan to cheer them up, even if it's just for a short time.
2 Views 5,333 All
The Happiest Person You Have Ever Met [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

The Happiest Person You Have Ever Met [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt: Think about the happiest person you have ever met. Who is it and what makes you think they are the happiest person you've met?
6 Views 8,184 All
Think Of A Time When You... [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Think Of A Time When You... [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt: Think of a time when you have forgotten somebody's birthday. How did you feel and what did you do about it?
4 Views 4,145 All
Think Of A Present... [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Think Of A Present... [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt: Think of a present you received that you didn't like. How did you react, and did the person suspect you didn't like it?
6 Views 5,604 All
Step Into Somebody's Dreams... [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Step Into Somebody's Dreams... [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt: What if you could step into somebody's dreams and watch them like a film? Whose dreams would you invade and what would you see?
5 Views 12,940 All
What If There Was No Color In The World? [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

What If There Was No Color In The World? [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt: What if there was no colors in the world? Describe a table full of color-less items and how you differentiate beween them. 
4 Views 7,429 All
Imagine You Woke Up One Day... [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Imagine You Woke Up One Day... [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt: Imagine you woke up one day and found that you were deaf. What sounds would you miss the most?
6 Views 9,662 All
A Day In The Life Of... [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

A Day In The Life Of... [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Creative writing prompt: Describe a day in the life of a blind person. How would the world seem different if you didn't have the sense of sight?
6 Views 9,925 All
UFO [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

UFO [CREATIVE WRITING PROMPT]

Students will write a story about a picture following the questions provided to them. They will practice writting in complete sentences as well as practicing writting paragraphs. The less advanced ...
16 Views 13,510 All

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